Best Performing S&P 500 Stocks of 2024
The top 25 S&P 500 stocks ranked by their 2024 total return performance
Top 25 Returns in 2024
Top 25 Best Performing S&P 500 Stocks of 2024
| Rank | Company | Ticker | Sector | 2024 Return | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rocket Lab Corporation | RKLB | Industrials | +360.6% | $39B |
| 2 | Palantir Technologies Inc. | PLTR | Technology | +340.5% | $385B |
| 3 | Vistra Corp. | VST | Utilities | +261.5% | $51B |
| 4 | Robinhood Markets, Inc. | HOOD | Financial Services | +192.5% | $65B |
| 5 | NVIDIA Corporation | NVDA | Technology | +171.3% | $4.27T |
| 6 | Spotify Technology S.A. | SPOT | Communication Services | +138.1% | $101B |
| 7 | United Airlines Holdings, Inc. | UAL | Industrials | +135.3% | $30B |
| 8 | Axon Enterprise, Inc. | AXON | Industrials | +130.1% | $41B |
| 9 | EMCOR Group, Inc. | EME | Industrials | +111.3% | $33B |
| 10 | Broadcom Inc. | AVGO | Technology | +110.5% | $1.53T |
| 11 | Targa Resources Corp. | TRGP | Energy | +110.1% | $52B |
| 12 | Howmet Aerospace Inc. | HWM | Industrials | +102.7% | $95B |
| 13 | Constellation Energy Corporati | CEG | Utilities | +92.7% | $105B |
| 14 | Arista Networks, Inc. | ANET | Technology | +87.7% | $171B |
| 15 | GoDaddy Inc. | GDDY | Technology | +85.9% | $11B |
| 16 | Marvell Technology, Inc. | MRVL | Technology | +83.8% | $79B |
| 17 | Netflix, Inc. | NFLX | Communication Services | +83.1% | $396B |
| 18 | Tapestry, Inc. | TPR | Consumer Cyclical | +82.8% | $30B |
| 19 | Deckers Outdoor Corporation | DECK | Consumer Cyclical | +82.3% | $15B |
| 20 | Apollo Global Management, Inc. | APO | Financial Services | +79.9% | $64B |
| 21 | KKR & Co. Inc. | KKR | Financial Services | +79.7% | $84B |
| 22 | Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | RCL | Consumer Cyclical | +79.0% | $76B |
| 23 | NRG Energy, Inc. | NRG | Utilities | +78.6% | $32B |
| 24 | Synchrony Financial | SYF | Financial Services | +74.0% | $24B |
| 25 | Walmart Inc. | WMT | Consumer Defensive | +74.0% | $962B |
Sector Breakdown of Top Performers
Which sectors dominated the top 25 performers in 2024?
Key Insight
Technology dominated the top performers in 2024, with 6 of the top 25 stocks coming from this sector. This represents 24% of the best performers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the best performing S&P 500 stocks in 2024?
RKLB was the top performer with a return of +360.6%. The top 25 stocks averaged +129.1%, far outpacing the broader S&P 500 index. Many of the top gainers benefited from AI tailwinds and strong earnings growth.
Which sectors led the S&P 500 in 2024?
Technology was the leading sector among top performers, with 6 stocks in the top 25. Industrials followed with 5 stocks. Sector leadership reflected the broader themes driving market performance throughout the year.
What drove stock performance in 2024?
Key drivers of 2024 stock performance included AI infrastructure buildout, strong consumer spending, and improving corporate margins. Companies with exposure to artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and semiconductor demand saw outsized gains as the market rewarded growth and innovation.
How did the S&P 500 overall perform in 2024?
While the index delivered solid returns, performance was uneven. The top 25 stocks averaged +129.1%, but many stocks underperformed. This concentration of returns in top performers is a recurring pattern in bull markets where market-leading companies attract the majority of capital flows.